Bit



F. E. DE LA MOTA.

BIT.

APPLICAIIOII FILED MIG-la. ms.

1,368,704, Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCISCO ESPAILLAT m LA MOTA, OF LA VEGA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

BI'I'.

Application filed August 18, 1919. Serial No.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, FRANoIsoo ESPAILLAT on LA Mora, a citizen ofDominican epublic, residing at La Vega, in the Province of La Vega,Dominican Republic, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBits, of which the following is a specification.

This horses,

invention relates to bridles for and more especially to bits; and theobject of the same is to produce an improved curb bit whose mouth piecehas a. choking extension or finger, but which mouth piece and finger arecovered so that no injury will be done the animal.

This object is carried out by forming the mouth piece and its finger insuch a way that a tubular cushion can be placed upon them, and by usingas such cushion a piece of tubing of rubber or rubber compound such asis ordinarily employed in insulatin wire. Details are set forth belowand re erenee is made to the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the head of a horse, showing this bit inplace.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective the bit removed.

In Fig. 1 the bridle is shown as comprising side straps S connected by abrow band B and a nose band N, and held on the head by a neck or throatband T, although any appropriate form of bridle may be employed view ofso lon as it has elements leading to the points for attachment to thebit as hereinafter described. The check rein is not shown. The drivingrein R has a snap hook H. No novelty is claimed for the parts thus fardescribed.

The bit herein comprises a pair of side bars 1 having eyes 2 at theirupper end and enlargements 3 adjacent said eyes, and rings 4 swivellymounted as at 5 in their lower ends, the lower portions of the side barsbeing connected by a cross bar 6 which stands 'ust forward of the lowerlip as indicated in Fig. 1. The nose strap N connects the two eyes andleads over the nose. The side straps S are connected at the points Pwith said eyes, and preferably extend over the head. Instead of a chinstrap I preferably use a link chain 7 which connects the two eyes 2 andpasses under the lower jaw, the connection with one of said eyes beingby means of a hook 8 whereby the chain may be detached when the bit isto be remove The mouth piece of this bit is a rod 10 of Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

metal whose extremities 13 are rigidly secured within the enlargements 3of the side bars and Whose midlength is bent to form a hump 12 extendingback into the mouth of the animal; and the entire bar or rod 10 iscovered with a soft cushion 1.4: which may well be a tube of rubber orrubber compound slipped onto said rod and extending over its hump. Asherein shown, the reins are attached by snap hooks H to the rings 4. Thecheck rein, if one be used, could be attached to the eyes 2, and tensionthereon merely draws the bit back into the mouth. If the reins wereattached to said eyes, tension thereon would have the same eifect. Butwhen attached where shown. tension on the reins swings the lower end ofthe entire bit downward and rearward while its upper end is held by thenose strap N and the chain 7, the mouth piece being thereby borneforcibly down onto the tongue and at the same time revolving partly sothat the tip of its finger is thrown against the roof of the mouth. Yetsuch action of this curb bit does not injure the flesh in the mouth orthe surface of the tongue, by reason of the presence of the cushionwhich covers all parts of the metal within the animals mouth. It isobvious that by detaching the reins from the rings and connecting themwith the eyes, the leverage is eliminated and the bit may be used thesame as if substantially straight. It is also obvious that acheck reinmay be employed or not at will, and, in fact, the scope of the inventionis not to be restricted to any particular manner of use.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the forward portions of the side bars 1 areoffset so that the rings 4 are arranged rearwardly of the side bars soas to permit the forward portions of the bit to be readily drawnrearwardly.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A curb bit comprising a pair of side bars having their forward endportions ofiset and formed with eyes, rein connecting rings arran edrearwardly of said oflset portions an having loops swivelly connected tosaid eyes, a bit bar connected to the side bars adjacent the rear endsof the same and being formed intermediate its ends with a bend, and alink chain connected to the rear portions of said side bars rearwardlyof said bit bar and adapted for engaging the lower jaw of a horse as theoilset portions of said side bars are drawn portions and having loopsswiveily connected to said eyes, a bit bar connected to the side barsadjacent the rear ends of the same and being formed intermediate itsends with a bend, a, link chain connected to the rear portions of sidebars rearwardly of said hit her and adapted for engaging the Lower jawof a horse as the offset portions of said side g bars are drawnrearwardly, a covering of yieldable rubber applied to said bit bar, anda connecting bar secured to the fez-ward portions of said side bars.

In testimonywhereof I affix my signature.

FRANCISU) ESPAILLAT ch: in MOTA. [L. 5.] V

